Donut Day and DIY DONE!!

This morning I packed up the girls in the truck and took them to Dunkin Donuts…we got some yummy donuts!  Thanks grandma!! (Gift card…)  I, of course, enjoyed a nice cup of Dunkin's coffee.

After we got home and hastily gobbled down our sweet treats, I got to work and finally finished the curtains I've been working on since after Thanksgiving.

I've been desperately wanting to make some new curtains, but we have been trying to watch our spending. So the idea came to me to just recycle, re-use, and re-purpose an old furniture cover I didn't use and curtains that I already owned.

I did the horizontal stripes because it was the best way to incorporate the extension piece of fabric.  The curtains I currently owned were not long enough. I just added more fabric (the old cover) at the end of the curtains and added the tan stripes. I bought some ribbon to finish it.

While doing this project, I didn't realize how hard horizontal stripes would be.  The hardest part was getting the two panels to be level with each other. I spent most of my time measuring and re-measuring the spacing. It's hardly perfect and a professional would surely pick them apart. And if you look close enough you can see…

I've learned a lot doing this project, like: cut all fabric first, and pin base everything, both panels at once.

The problem I encountered was that I did each panel almost 2 months apart. (Small children running about makes it difficult to commit to getting a whole project done in one sitting.)

I started this after we got back from my in-laws at Thanksgiving.  Which probably wasn't the best plan.  I think we had like 5 weeks between that holiday and Christmas.

I was cramming to get things done because Mike's whole family was coming to spend Christmas with us.  So this project was probably the reason we didn't send out Christmas Cards this year.

Well anyway, I got the first panel done and then the next day it seemed like my in-laws were here.  I at least wanted to have one curtain hanging on the bare window.

When I came back to the project I couldn't adjust the lengths of the wide stripes on the first curtain; lesson learned- pin base everything then sew last…. and I didn't think to measure the tan fabric wider in the areas I needed while doing the second which came to the other lesson learned-cut all the fabric at once!!…

But inspire of all the difficulties I finished it and I'm rather proud of them. Not bad for being my first attempt at sewing curtains.

The finished product:

You can't tell in this photo, the lighting is horrible, but the fabric touching the ground is the same color as the stripes, the lining I used behind it wasn't as thick as the lining on the main curtain...

Tea Time with Very Special Little Ladies

Today, I was privileged to have tea with some very important people...my two lovely daughters, Lizzie and Bella. 

We set the coffee table with the girl's tea cups.  They were super excited when I said we could really drink out of them.  So we brewed some very fine Gatorade "tea" and had chocolate chip "crumpets". 

During the tea many delightful things were discussed.  We talked about our day. Lizzie told me she went dancing (I played some old Celtic Folk Records of mine that my Dad gave me.  Interestingly, I danced to the very same records when I was about Lizzie's age.  That's why my Dad gave them to me), and Bella explained very intently to me that she went flying all with wild arm gestures and pleadings to, "Watch me! Watch me!".  It was quite interesting.  I didn't realize that these VIPs was so talented and adventurous. (Actually I did. :))

The girls were so pleased we had a "real" tea party.  I love that they are so easily amused.

Bella and Lizzie in the tea room.

 

 Our refreshments; so dainty.

The host serving her guests first.

Pouring some refills.

Bella telling me about her flying trip.

Again the host refilling.

Bella drinking her tea.

Bella setting her tea cup down...lol

Lizzie enjoying her crumpets.

More refilling.

 

All of us!

 

Enjoying some fine conversation and company!

Things Come Crashing Down

Have there been times in your life where you've felt like you've had supernatural intervention, not like creepy stuff, but times where you've felt like something really wrong could have happened but it ended up everything turned out ok?  I can name on my hand about 5 times in my life where I've felt like this personally.

Today, marks the second time I've felt like this for my girls. Today, there were "Angels encamped" around my very adventurous children....

Minding my own business, I was in the living room while my children were very intently playing in their room (this should have been my first warning signal, but I was just enjoying the fact that the girls were playing with each other so well) when all of a sudden I heard a loud crash and then the sounds of screaming...I rushed into the room and found the dresser drawer upside-down  on the floor with Bella half way pinned underneath it and Lizzie fleeing from the scene. 

At this point Bella's mouth started to bleed and Lizzie's lip was fat and her cheek was swollen with a bruise on it...I took the girls into the living room and began to check for any serious injuries, they didn't have any (thank the Lord) and finally after probing, I found out what happened. 

Bella was being the "baby" and wanted to sleep in her "crib" (the drawer) with Lizzie tucking her in...

As I inspected the scene, it occurred to me that they walked away from a potentially very serious disaster.  If the whole dresser, not just the drawer, would have fallen that would have meant the very heavy mirror on top could have fallen. I am so thankful for the Lord's protection of my kids...

I learned early in my experience as a mother that I can not prevent all things bad from happening to them, but I can have faith in the Lord to watch out for them when I can't by saying prayers for their safety.  This has become a daily habit for me. Every time I think of them, I ask the Lord to protect them...Thank you Lord again for keeping my children from any real danger...

They were both pretty shaken up and we talked about the consequences of their actions...In the midst of this object lesson, Bella tells me that, "Jesus is everywhere," and I tell her, "Yes, yes He is...even now He's keeping watch over us..."  Needless to say both were very sorry for what happened and were also afraid I was going to punish them further, I think they both learned their lesson because of the scariness of it all so I felt like further punishment wasn't necessary.

After comforting them with numerous hugs and kisses and reassuring them of their forgiveness, I was able to lay them down.

They are now soundly (safely) sleeping for their afternoon nap in spite of all the blood, bruises and bumps...

The many adventures of motherhood...

Welcome to My Room! (Dear Lizzie, Dear Bella)

The girls room is finally decorated.  Until we get the bunk bed, this is how I have things arranged and put away.  It's amazing what a burden has been lifted knowing that the girls room is organized, neat, and tidy!  The challenge now will be to keep it that way.  The girls actually enjoy playing in their room now too.  I went in and literally took out half of their toys.  I think that this is just another way for me to simplify my life and the girl's. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear LIzzie: The Singing Giggle Princess

Lizzie just amazes me.  You know how it is with small kids, constant chatter boxes; balls of energy that giggle around you, really making life sweet, if we were to just stop and appreciate them. Lizzie is the same singing giggle princess...  she is constantly singing some song or is at my feet asking questions, like: what am I doing, or what is this or that, talking about whatever and asking if I'll play with her.  Finally, after a few minutes of this I finally stop what I am doing and ask her what it is that she needs.  She says that she wants me to put papers in her new care bear folder I gave her yesterday.  It was just the sweetest thing to see that this made her day, made her so happy and has now occupied her.  All she wanted me to do was put blank pieces of drawing paper in her folder so she could draw with it....what a silly kid....the simplest things make her so happy.  Sometimes, like today, I just need to stop what I am doing and listen to her... soon she's going to be grown up and I won't hear the songs of giggle princess anymore... I am so thankful to have this little girl as my eldest daughter. Thank You Lord...

Dear Lizzie...

This morning at breakfast as I was about to say grace, you decided that you would like to pray for the food.  So of course I was happy to let you.  This is how your prayer went, "Dear Lord, Thank you for this food and thank you for Obama!"....I was shocked, dismayed...oh know! What did I do wrong for you to say such things! (I'm being sarcastic)   Really you've been hearing my prayers each meal time and I think that that was your translation...my prayers have been, "Dear Lord, Thank you for this food please take Obama out of office..." So in truth, my dear Lizzie, I hope that's what you meant!!  :)You've also become very involved in the political scene,  you've been asking mommy to turn on the "Obama TV", she is referring to Fox News...you also know who Romney is and you know that's who we want to win!!

Here you are, the butterfly princess!!

The Mouth of Babes

Driving back from "class" at the church. This conversation takes place. 

Mom:"Lizzie, did you have a good time tonight playing with your friends?"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Were you a good girl? Did you obey the teachers?"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Were you a bad girl"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Why were you bad?"

Lizzie: "They put me away in the corner."

I still don't know why they put her away...


Everyday Lizzie tells me that Buzz "Lightcheers" is coming over to her house.  I ask her what she is going to do with Buzz "Lightcheers", she says, "We are going to have a tea party."

I babysit some children, Lizzie tells me that they are coming to her house and that she will be glad to share it with them...

About a month ago, Lizzie started her first Sunday School class, and when I went to go pick her up, the workers told me she had won the quiet seat prize!! I was shocked...I wonder if that will ever happen again. They also told me that when it was her turn to help with the songs, she got up, kicked off her shoes and started dancing...hmmm, that girl likes to bust a move!!

Two Sundays ago, Lizzie said her very first memory verse.  I tell her, "Genesis 1:1" and she replies, "In the beginning, God "bree-gatted" the heavens and the earth."  I was so excited...her teacher gave her a nice coloring book prize. 

Here she is, the dancing queen and princess!

Can you see Lizzie?  I think this is the biggest tree in Oklahoma!

Ramblings of a Mother Truly Blessed

Cup of Joy for the Day

The crock pot is on with some chicken breasts and rice; the girls are napping, Lizzie is sleeping in our winged back chair we have in the study while I sit here doing some work for Preacher.  I was at a good break point so I thought I would brew some tea and write a short line or two. 

Today's cup of joy is brought to you by TAZO, a Chi, full leaf black tea.  I love this tea!!  Not only for the obvious reason: it's black tea (black tea has caffeine) but also because of its very spicy flavor; ...http://www.tazo.com/default.asp?hasFlash=1 

This is a neat web site with the teas' ingredients and a little about the history of it...Steeping the tea for at least five minutes is a must and I like to add some cream to smooth the flavor out a little bit.  The cup I'm using is from my mothers' collection, Queens China Kenilworth, Staffordshire, England, Est. 1875.

Bella is now an expert at the baby "army crawl".  I am beginning to think she may just skip crawling and go straight to walking.  She's pulling herself up on the sofa and in the crib...time to lower it I guess.  Lizzie and Bella are really starting to be the greatest of playmates...although Bella gets upset very quickly when Lizzie decides that it's Bella's turn to "share".  I have the cutest video of Bella playing on this little Lion we got from Aunt Kayla and Uncle Dave last year for Lizzie for Christmas.  It's too cute.  I said when I first had Bella that my favorite time is when they are new, now I'm saying it's when they start to interact and play with you and giggle.  I just love babies I guess.

There, Mommy's the Princess...

Today Lizzie was looking at the pictures I have as a screen saver on my computer.  I have pictures of my wedding day, I'm all dressed up, she points to the computer and says, "Look, there, Mommy's the Princess..."  There are few things in this world that are better than to know that in the eyes of my daughter I am a princess...I pray that I will always have that kind of influence in her life...

In the eyes of a child...such wonder, such innocence, such love; all untainted by the world. Simplicity with such trust.  Oh to be more childlike.  I love reading to my Lizzie stories about Jesus' love for her.  I love to tell her how He wants all to come to Him with faith such as hers, as a little child.

My prayer for Lizzie is that she will, in time, when all is right, come to Jesus for salvation...so that her life would be a reflection of God's most perfect will.  He created her for His good pleasure. Isn't there such peace knowing that the Giver and Sustainer of all life has given us a design to live out each of our days by.  Thank you Lord for that knowledge.  Thank you Lord for that hope.

Sit Down Please, Mama.

Dear Lizzie,
You are just like your mother....I love to have conversation and company while I eat and so do you.
It's just so precious how you will point to the seat while I'm standing putting my dishes in the sink and you say, "sit down please, mama." {I started from day one, telling you to say please and thank you...I feel you can never start too early, and it's paid off, people are always commenting on how you have such good manners...} Today you wanted me to finish drinking my water while you finished eating your macaroni and cheese.

When you get older {sad thought} we can sit down and have tea or coffee together.  Don't grow up so fast!!  I can't believe that you are forming sentences and telling me your thoughts...{sniffle sniffle} Thank you Lord, for the precious babies you've blessed me with...

Love,
Mom